National Bookshop Day

Bookshop Day, also called National Bookshop Day in some places, is celebrated on the first Saturday in October in the UK, Ireland and certain other territories.

History of Bookshop Day

Bookshop Day began as part of the “Books Are My Bag” campaign in the UK, launched in 2013. The goal was to highlight and support local bookshops — from small independent shops to high-street chains — reminding communities how important they are not just as retail spaces but as cultural and social hubs.Over the years, Bookshop Day has become a popular event, with many bookshops organizing special events, window displays, author signings, limited edition bags, and more.

In a broader sense, Bookshop Day is part of a wave of celebrations and observances globally that seek to support independent bookstores. In Ireland and the UK, it aligns with the autumn book-launch season, helping bookshops attract early seasonal traffic before Christmas.

Why Bookshop Day is important

Bookshop Day matters because it shines a light on what many of us already sense: that bookshops are more than places to buy books. They are gathering spots, anchors of local culture, places where human interactions around stories happen. On Bookshop Day, people get reminded of the experience of browsing, the serendipity of discovery, of chatting with someone who knows books, of seeing that beautiful cover in the window, of stumbling across something unexpected. It connects us to the joy of reading in a tangible way.

It also helps sustain small and independent bookshops, which often struggle against online retailers, digital disruption, rising costs, and changing consumer habits. Special events and promotions around Bookshop Day help draw customers. These shops often contribute to the health of local economies and maintain diversity in what books are available — niche, local, less mainstream — which can easily be lost if market forces dominate exclusively.

Here are some human, concrete ways Bookshop Day is important:

• It gives people an excuse to visit their local bookshop, which they might otherwise forget or undervalue
• It encourages bookshops to do special things – maybe host an author, make a nice window display, have a little party – making the experience feel festive
• It helps emerging or lesser‑known authors get noticed when bookshops highlight new or unusual books
• It strengthens community bonds; people might chat over books, share recommendations, discover places they didn’t know
• It supports the local economy and pluralism in culture (so that not everything is filtered through big chains or online giants)

How to Celebrate Bookshop Day

Celebrating Bookshop Day can be simple, joyful, meaningful. You don’t need a big budget — it’s mostly about being present, engaging, showing up, sharing, helping. Here are some realistic ideas:

Spend time browsing your local bookshops. Instead of buying online, take a walk, see what’s new, what’s interesting.
If possible, attend special events: author signings, readings, workshops, story times. Even just showing up helps.
Buy a book as a gift — for someone else, or yourself. Maybe try a book you wouldn’t normally pick.
Share on social media: your favorite bookshop, what you bought, what you love about bookshops. Use the hashtags like #BookshopDay or the local equivalent. Word of mouth helps more than we often realize.
Encourage friends or family: suggest meeting in a bookshop, maybe even organize a bookshop crawl (visit several) if there are options close by.

And here are some other ideas people often enjoy:

• Go early, enjoy a coffee in the shop, take your time
• Ask the bookseller for a recommendation, especially for something “unexpected”
• Take kids or someone who doesn’t often visit bookshops, show them around—they often find joy in it
• If bookshops nearby are holding special promotions or art displays, plan ahead so you don’t miss them
• Buy a tote‑bag or merch if bookshop offers something special for the day

Bookshop Day Dates Table